Watson Gives New State Budget a Thumbs Up
HARRISBURG – After passage of a no-tax-increase, $32.7 billion state budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year, Rep. Kathy Watson (R-Bucks/144th) issued the following statement:
“For the past several years, we have passed solid, responsible budgets that have allowed us to weather the economic downturn. Those decisions have positioned us well and prevented us from further burdening hard-working families, seniors and businesses with additional taxes. Now that the economy is recovering and state revenues are rebounding, we are able to make additional investments in education and community safety initiatives – and without any increases in taxes or fees.
“This better financial position presents a lot of good news for residents of the 144th District and Bucks County, as money is being devoted for school safety programs, the opioid epidemic and individuals with intellectual disabilities.
“Most of all, I am pleased with the record level of spending for education, which totals more than $14 billion, from early childhood all the way through higher education. We are hopeful that the additional boosts for higher education will negate the need for tuition increases in the next academic year.
“In fact, another $44 million is being allocated for child welfare services – an amount that is greatly needed as more and more families struggle with addiction and children are left as the most vulnerable victims of this crisis. As chairman of the House Children and Youth Committee, it remains my mission that every single dollar appropriated to help children in this state is spent to its maximum benefit. In addition to funding, we continue to look at ways in which we can improve the entire child welfare system.”
Representative Kathy Watson
144th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Jennifer Keaton
717.705.2094
jkeaton@pahousegop.com
KathyWatson144.com /
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